Shoe having air-permeable tongue

ABSTRACT

A shoe ( 2 ) having an air-permeable tongue, according to the present invention, comprises: a tongue outer cover ( 131 ) having a plurality of vent holes ( 135 ); a tongue inner cover ( 133 ) provided under the tongue outer cover ( 131 ); and a spacer structure ( 132 ) having a main body part ( 132   b ) fitted between the tongue outer cover ( 131 ) and the tongue inner cover ( 133 ), and a wing part ( 132   a ) extending from the main body part ( 132   b ) toward the front of the shoe so as to be positioned under a vamp ( 140 ), which is an upper forming the front portion of the shoe. The spacer structure ( 132 ) comprises: an air-permeable part ( 132 - 1 ) upwardly formed from the wing part ( 132   a ); an air-permeable part ( 132 - 3 ) downwardly formed from the main body part ( 132   b ); and a space passage ( 132 - 2 ) formed in the wing part ( 132   a ) and the main body part ( 132   b ) so as to enable air to pass between the wing part ( 132   a ) and the main body part ( 132   b ). According to the present invention, heat or smell, which is generated at the front portion of the shoe, naturally passes through the space passage of the spacer structure and is discharged to the outside through the vent holes of the tongue.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a shoe having an air-permeable tongueand more specifically, to a shoe having an air-permeable tongue suchthat the front portion of a shoe may be air-permeable through thetongue.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

The feet has 50,000 sweat glands which account for 20% of the entiresweat glands in the human body and sweat more than any other parts ofthe body. Even when people do not engage in physical activity, the sweatglands of the feet produce a large amount of sweat. When people engagein intense physical activity, the amount of sweat is increased by 12times.

Various methods for ensuring permeability have been suggested so as todischarge heat and a smell generated in shoes to the outside.

South Korean Utility Model Registration No. 0192510 (disclosed on Aug.16, 2000, hereinafter referred to as “Document 1”) titled “Air exhaustfootwear” has a structure in which an insole includes a plurality ofvent holes, and a lateral portion of an outsole includes a plurality ofair holes in the state where a space is ensured between the insole andthe outsole. By doing so, when a user wears the footwear and walks, thespace between the insole and outsole is compressed, air filling thespace between the insole and outsole is compressed and then the air isdischarged to the outside through the air holes in the process ofapplying the weight of the user to the upper portion of the insole.

However, according to the invention in Document 1, ventilation isperformed through the bottom of the footwear. Thus, water may permeateinto the footwear when stagnating on the ground. This is notadvantageous for rain boots.

South Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-35118 (published onOct. 5, 2000, hereinafter referred to as “Document 2”) titled “Installedair hose insole for shoes” has a structure in which air is introducedinto the lateral portion of an insole of the shoes through an air hosewhere a check valve is installed and then is discharged out of anoutsole of the shoes.

According to the invention in Document 2, ventilation is performedthrough the bottom of the footwear.

However, water permeates into the shoes when stagnating on the ground.Thus, a check valve has to be used to prevent water on the ground fromsmearing into the shoes.

South Korean Patent No. 470751 (disclosed on Mar. 8, 2005, hereinafterreferred to as “Document 3”) titled “SHOES HAVING A GOOD AIRCIRCULATION” has a structure which enables air to circulate. However,water smears through the bottom of the shoes.

As described above, various methods for ensuring permeability have beensuggested. According to such methods, the outsoles of shoes areconfigured to be air-permeable. Thus, such shoes are not appropriate forplaces where water stagnates on the ground.

This applicant has applied the theory of an automatic ventilation of atermite nest to the tongue of shoes instead of the outsole and embodieda shoe having an air-permeable tongue according to the presentinvention.

Termite nests are usually 1 to 2 m high. However, the height of a largeone is 9 m corresponding to the height of a 3-to-four story apartmentbuilding. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the temperature inside a termitenest is kept at about 29 to 30° C. all the time thanks to thermalconvection according to the structure of a termite nest and the holes ofa termite nest as although the temperature in African prairie known as atermite habitat rises to 38 or more ° C. during the day, and the diurnaltemperature variation in African prairie is big.

This applicant has embodied the present invention by applying the theoryof ondol, the Korean traditional floor heating system in addition to atermite nest. That is, when people are wearing shoes, the feetthemselves serve as agungi, a part of the traditional floor heatingsystem. Thus, heat or a smell in shoes is naturally transferred from alower place to an upper place and discharged to the outside without anyexternal reactions.

PRIOR ART

Document 1. South Korean Utility Model Registration No. 0192510(disclosed on Aug. 16, 2000)

Document 2. South Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-35118(published on Oct. 5, 2001)

Document 3. South Korean Patent No. 470751 (disclosed on Mar. 8, 2005)

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Problems

The present invention is directed to providing a shoe having anair-permeable tongue which can discharge heat or smell, generated at thefront portion of a shoe, to the outside through a tongue unliketraditional shoes where air ventilation is performed through the solethereof.

Technical Solutions

As a means to solve the above-described problems, a shoe having anair-permeable tongue includes a tongue outer cover having a plurality ofvent holes; a tongue inner cover provided under the tongue outer cover;and a spacer structure provided with a main body part fitted between thetongue outer cover and the tongue inner cover, and a wing part extendingfrom the main body part toward a front of the shoe so as to bepositioned under a vamp that is an upper constituting the front portionof a shoe.

The spacer structure includes an air-permeable part formed on the bottomsurface of the wing part; an air-permeable part formed on the topsurface of the main body part so as to be linked with the vent holes ofthe tongue outer cover; and a space passage formed in the wing part andthe main body part so as to enable air to pass between the wing part andthe main body part.

Part of edges of the tongue outer cover and the tongue inner cover iscoupled so as to form a tongue pocket that has an entrance towards thefront portion of the shoe, the main body part of the spacer structure isinserted into the tongue pocket through the entrance of the tonguepocket, and an end of the tongue outer cover positioned at the entranceof the tongue pocket is preferably coupled to the vamp.

The length of the tongue inner cover is larger than that of the tongueouter cover so as to extend to the vamp. In this case, the tongue innercover is divided into a wing part that will be positioned under the vampand a main body part that will be positioned under the tongue outercover, and the wing part of the tongue inner cover preferably includes aplurality of vent holes. Further, the wing part of the spacer structureis preferably coupled to the wing part of the tongue inner cover. Inthis case, an edge of the wing part of the tongue inner cover and thevamp are preferably coupled to a sole.

The spacer structure may consist of double-layered air mesh.

The double-layered air mesh preferably includes an upper net which has amesh structure; a lower net which is spaced apart from the upper net andhas a mesh structure; and a vent member installed between the upper netand the lower net so as to provide a space passage. In this case, thevent member may consist of tangled elastic fibers.

Air-permeable parts and protrusions may be formed on a flat body of thespacer structure. In this case, if the protrusions are installedupwards, the air-permeable parts are preferably formed at the wing partof the spacer structure. If protrusions are installed downwards,air-permeable parts are preferably formed at the main body part of thespacer structure.

Advantageous Effects

According to the present invention, heat or a smell, generated at thefront portion of the shoe, naturally passes through the space passage ofthe spacer structure and is discharged to the outside through the ventholes of the tongue. Thus, even though the vamp consists ofnon-permeable materials, air permeability is ensured. In this case,water may not come through the vamp since only the vent holes of thetongue outer cover are exposed to the outside, thereby ensuring waterresistance.

If the vamp consists of an air-permeable material such as a net, waterresistance may not be significantly improved. However, in this case, theair permeability of the present invention may be higher than that oftraditional ones whose vamp simply consists of a mesh material, sincethe vamp and the tongue as well serve as an air discharging passage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an automatic ventilation system of atermite nest.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an appearance of a shoe 2 having anair-permeable tongue according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a tongue 130 according to the firstembodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4 to 8 are views illustrating a process of manufacturing a tongue130 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a tongue 130 according to the secondembodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 10 to 15 are views illustrating a process of manufacturing atongue 130 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 16 to 21 are views illustrating a spacer structure 132.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SYMBOLS

-   -   2: Shoe having an air-permeable tongue    -   110: Upper 120: Sole    -   130: Tongue 130 a: Tongue pocket    -   131: Tongue outer cover 132: Spacer structure    -   132-1, 132-3: Air-permeable part 132-2: Space passage    -   132-4: Protrusion 132-5: Body    -   132-6: Upper net 132-8: Lower net    -   132-7: Vent member 132 a, 133 a: Wing part    -   132 b, 133 b: Main body part 133: Tongue inner cover    -   135, 136: Vent holes    -   137 a: Portion where a tongue outer cover 131 and a tongue inner        cover 133 are coupled    -   137 b: Portion where a tongue outer cover 131 and a vamp 140 are        coupled    -   137 c: Portion where a spacer structure 132 and a tongue inner        cover 133 are coupled    -   140: Vamp 150: Tightening means    -   A: Entrance of pocket

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described indetail with reference to the attached drawings. The embodiments thatwill be described hereunder is provided only for a better understandingof the present invention and the present invention may be modified invarious forms without departing from the technical spirit of the presentinvention by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the presentinvention pertains. Thus, the scope of the right to the presentinvention should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an appearance of a shoe 2 having anair-permeable tongue according to the present invention. According to ashoe 2 having an air-permeable tongue of the present invention, an upper110 is installed on a sole 120 so as to form an entire appearance, asillustrated in FIG. 2. A tongue 130 is installed at a portion where atightening means 150 such as a shoestring or Velcro is installed, so asto cover the bridge of a foot, and a plurality of vent holes 135 areinstalled at the tongue 130. According to the present invention, thefront of the upper 110 of a shoe is also referred to as a vamp 140 as inother cases.

First Embodiment

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a tongue 130 according to the firstembodiment of the present invention. The tongue 130, as illustrated inFIG. 3, has a structure in which a spacer structure 132 is fittedbetween a tongue outer cover 131 and a tongue inner cover 133. Thelength of the tongue outer cover 131 is similar to that of the tongueinner cover 133 while the spacer structure 132 is longer than the tongueouter cover 131 and extends to the vamp 140 that is the front portion ofthe shoe.

A spacer structure 132 according to the present invention will bedescribed below with reference to FIGS. 15 to 20, and FIG. 3 illustratesdouble-layered air mesh as an example of the spacer structure.

The double-layered air mesh has a structure in which a vent member 132-7is installed between an upper net 132-6 and a lower net 132-8. The ventmember 132-7 may consist of a porous material such as a sponge ortangled elastic fibers. In the case of an elastic fiber, the thicknessand strength of the elastic fiber is determined depending on the gap andthe degree of the buffering between the upper net 132-6 and the lowernet 132-8. The gap between the tangled elastic fibers is configured as aspace passage (132-2 in FIG. 16).

Heat or smell, which is generated at the front portion of the shoe,naturally passes through the space passage 132-2 of the spacer structure132, is diffused towards the vent holes 135 of the tongue outer cover13, and is discharged to the outside.

A manufacturing process is described as follows with reference to FIGS.4 to 8.

First, a tongue outer cover 131, a spacer structure 132, and a tongueinner cover 133 are prepared, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The length ofthe spacer structure 132 is larger than that of the tongue outer cover131 and the tongue inner cover 133.

The spacer structure 132 is divided into a wing part 132 a and a mainbody part 132 b. Herein, the main body part 132 b is fitted between thetongue outer cover 131 and the tongue inner cover 133, and contributesto the formation of a tongue 130. The wing part 132 a extends from themain body part 132 b towards the front of the shoe so as to bepositioned under a vamp 140 that is an upper constituting the frontportion of the shoe.

Preferably, the width of the wing part 132 a is larger than that of themain body part 132 b at a boundary between the wing part 132 a and themain body part 132 b and becomes narrower towards the front thereof,thereby having a streamlined shape considering a shoe structure.

The tongue outer cover 131 includes a plurality of vent holes 135. Ifthe tongue outer cover 131 consists of a non-water or non-air permeablematerial such as leather, artificial leather, waterproof fabric, asynthetic resin etc., holes are made at the tongue outer cover 131 suchthat vent holes 135 are formed. If the tongue outer cover 131 itself isconfigured to be air-permeable like a mesh, the tongue outer cover 131has vent holes 135 without the need to make holes.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 5, part of edges of the tongue outer cover131 and the tongue inner cover 133 is coupled so as to form a tonguepocket 130 a that has an entrance A towards the front of the shoe.Reference numeral 137 a indicates a portion where the tongue outer cover131 and the tongue inner cover 133 are coupled. Such a portion 137 a hasthe approximate shape of “⊏”. The tongue outer cover 131 and the tongueinner cover 133 are coupled via various methods such as sewing, adheringwith an adhesive, welding etc.

Next, an end of the tongue outer cover 131 positioned at the entrance ofthe tongue pocket 131 a is coupled to the vamp 140 of the upper 110 viasewing, adhering, welding etc. as illustrated in FIG. 6. Referencenumeral 137 b indicates a portion where the tongue outer cover 131 andthe vamp 140 are coupled. In this case, since the tongue inner cover 133is not coupled to the vamp 140, the entrance A of the tongue pocket 130a stays open.

Next, the main body part 132 b of the spacer structure 132 is insertedinto the tongue pocket 130 a through the entrance A of the tongue pocket130 a, as illustrated in FIG. 7.

Finally, the spacer structure 132 is wound under a sole 120 and coupledto the sole 120 while the spacer structure 132 and the vamp 140 arepulled laterally, as illustrated in FIG. 8. Unless the spacer structure132 and the vamp 140 are coupled to the sole 120, the spacer structure132 is not fixed in place in the shoe. Thus, the spacer structure 132and the vamp 140 preferably are coupled to the sole 120. Otherwise, ajob of coupling the spacer structure 132 to the vamp 140 needs to beperformed.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a tongue 130 according to the secondembodiment of the present invention. Unlike the first embodiment, atongue inner cover 133 according to the second embodiment extends to avamp 140 that is the front portion of the shoe.

A manufacturing process is described as follows with reference to FIGS.10 to 15.

First, a tongue outer cover 131, a spacer structure 132, and a tongueinner cover 133 are prepared, as illustrated in FIG. 10. Unlike thefirst embodiment, the length of the tongue inner cover 133 according tothe second embodiment is larger than that of the tongue outer cover 131so as to extend to a vamp 140 that is the front portion of the shoe.Thus, the tongue inner cover 133 is divided into a wing part 133 a thatwill be positioned under the vamp 140 and a main body part 133 b thatwill be positioned under the tongue outer cover 131. The wing part 133 aof the tongue inner cover 133 includes a plurality of vent holes 136.

Preferably, the width of the wing part 133 a is larger than that of themain body part 133 b at a boundary between the wing part 133 a and themain body part 133 b and becomes narrower towards the front thereof,thereby having a streamlined shape considering a shoe structure.

At the time of manufacturing a shoe, the tongue inner cover 133 aregently curved and positioned under the vamp 140. Thus, vent holes arepreferably distributed in a streamlined shape such that the vent holes136 are distributed at the portion where there are toes and at the frontportion of the bridge of a foot, which is adjacent to the toes.

If the tongue inner cover 133 consists of a non-air permeable materialsuch as leather, artificial leather, waterproof fabric, a syntheticresin etc., holes are made at the tongue inner cover such that ventholes 136 are formed. If the tongue inner cover 133 itself consists ofan air-permeable material such as a net or a non-woven fabric, thetongue inner cover 133 has vent holes 136 without the need to makeholes.

Preferably, the spacer structure 132 has a shape and size so as not toescape from the tongue inner cover 133 while the spacer structure 132and the vent holes 136 of the tongue inner cover 133 cover a main bodypart 133 b.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 11, part of edges of the tongue outer cover131 and the tongue inner cover 133 is coupled so as to form a tonguepocket 130 a that has an entrance A towards the front portion of theshoe. Reference numeral 137 a indicates a portion where the tongue outercover 131 and the tongue inner cover 133 are coupled. Such a portion 137a has the approximate shape of “⊏”. The tongue outer cover 131 and thetongue inner cover 133 are coupled via various methods such as sewing,adhering with an adhesive, welding etc.

Next, an end of the tongue outer cover 131 positioned at the entrance Aof the tongue pocket 130 a is coupled to the vamp 140 of the upper 110via sewing, adhering, welding etc. as illustrated in FIG. 12. Referencenumeral 137 b indicates a portion where the tongue outer cover 131 andthe vamp 140 are coupled. In this case, since the tongue inner cover 133is not coupled to the vamp 140, the entrance A of the tongue pocket 130a stays open.

Next, the main body part 132 b of the spacer structure 132 is insertedinto the tongue pocket 130 a through the entrance A of the tongue pocket130 a, as illustrated in FIG. 13. In this case, a wing part 132 a of thespacer structure 132 is placed on an area where the vent holes 136 ofthe tongue inner cover 133 are distributed.

Next, the vamp 140, as illustrated in FIG. 14, is partially lifted, andthen the wing part 132 a of the spacer structure 132 is coupled to thewing part 133 a of the tongue inner cover 133 through a method such assewing, adhering, welding etc. Reference numeral 137 c indicates aportion where the spacer structure 132 and the tongue inner cover 133are coupled.

Finally, the wing part 133 a of the tongue inner cover 133 is woundunder a sole 120 and coupled to the sole 120 while an edge of the wingpart 133 a of the tongue inner cover 133, and the vamp 140 are pulled,as illustrated in FIG. 15. The spacer structure 132 is already coupledto the tongue inner cover 133. Thus, the spacer structure 132 does notneed to be coupled to the sole 120.

[Spacer Structure 132]

FIGS. 16 to 21 are views illustrating a spacer structure 132.

A spacer structure 132 of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG.16, includes an air-permeable part 132-1 formed at a bottom surface ofthe wing part 132 a, an air-permeable part 132-3 formed at a top surfaceof the main body part 132 b, and a space passage 132-2 formed in thewing part 132 a and the main body part 132 b so as to enable air to passbetween the wing part 132 a and the main body part 132 b.

In the case of the first experiment, heat and a smell, as illustrated inFIG. 17, passes through the air-permeable part 132-1, the space passage132-2, the air-permeable part 132-3 and the vent holes 135, and aredischarged to the outside. In the case of the second experiment, heat ora smell, as illustrated in FIG. 18, passes through the vent holes 136,the air-permeable part 132-1, the space passage 132-2, the air-permeablepart 132-3 and the vent holes 135, and are discharged to the outside.

FIG. 19 is a view illustrating one example of a spacer structure 132 inwhich protrusions 132-4 are installed upwards on the entire flat body132-5 of the spacer structure 132, and air-permeable parts 132-1 areformed at a wing part 132 a. In this case, even though a main body part132 b does not includes an air-permeable part 132-3, spaces between theprotrusions 132-4 serve as an air-permeable part 132-3 and a spacepassage 132-2.

FIG. 20 is a view illustrating another example of a spacer structure 132in which protrusions 132-4 are installed downwards on the entire flatbody 132-5 of the spacer structure 132, and an air-permeable part 132-3is formed at a main body part 132 b. In this case, even though a wingpart 132 a does not includes an air-permeable part 132-1, spaces betweenthe protrusions 132-4 serve as an air-permeable part 132-1 and a spacepassage 132-2.

Certainly, if an air-permeable part 132-1 is formed at a wing part 132 aand a main body part 132 b as well, a spacer structure 132 may beinstalled regardless of the direction of protrusions 132-4.

FIG. 21 is a view illustrating double-layered air mesh as yet anotherexample of a spacer structure 132. This has been described above andtherefore will not be described.

According to the present invention, heat or a smell, generated at thefront portion of the shoe, naturally passes through the space passage132-2 of the spacer structure 132 and is discharged to the outsidethrough the vent holes 135 of the tongue 130. Thus, even though the vamp140 consists of non-permeable materials, air permeability is ensured. Inthis case, water may not come through the vamp 140 since only the ventholes 135 of the tongue outer cover 131 are exposed to the outside,thereby ensuring water resistance.

If the area where there is the vamp 140 consists of an air-permeablematerial such as a net, water resistance may not be significantlyimproved. However, in this case, the air permeability of the presentinvention may be higher than that of traditional ones whose vamp 140simply consists of a mesh material, since the vamp 140 and the tongue130 as well serve as an air discharging passage through the spacerstructure 132.

1. A shoe having an air-permeable tongue comprising: a tongue outercover having a plurality of vent holes; a tongue inner cover providedunder the tongue outer cover; and a spacer structure provided with amain body part fitted between the tongue outer cover and the tongueinner cover, and a wing part extending from the main body part toward afront portion of the shoe so as to be positioned under a vamp that is anupper constituting a front portion of a shoe, the spacer structurecomprising: an air-permeable part formed on the bottom surface of thewing part; an air-permeable part formed on a top surface of the mainbody part so as to be linked with the vent holes of the tongue outercover; and a space passage formed in the wing part and the main bodypart so as to enable air to pass between the wing part and the main bodypart, wherein part of edges of the tongue outer cover and the tongueinner cover is coupled so as to form a tongue pocket that has anentrance towards the front portion of the shoe, the main body part ofthe spacer structure is inserted into the tongue pocket through theentrance of the tongue pocket, and an end of the tongue outer coverpositioned at the entrance of the tongue pocket is coupled to the vamp.2. The shoe having an air-permeable tongue according to claim 1, whereina length of the tongue inner cover is larger than that of the tongueouter cover so as to extend to the vamp, the tongue inner cover isdivided into a wing part that will be positioned under the vamp and amain body part that will be positioned under the tongue outer cover, andthe wing part of the tongue inner cover preferably comprises a pluralityof vent holes.
 3. The shoe having an air-permeable tongue according toclaim 2, wherein the wing part of the spacer structure is coupled to thewing part of the tongue inner cover.
 4. The shoe having an air-permeabletongue according to claim 3, wherein an edge of the wing part of thetongue inner cover and the vamp are coupled to a sole.
 5. The shoehaving an air-permeable tongue according to claim 1, wherein the spacerstructure consists of double-layered air mesh, the double-layered airmesh comprising: an upper net which has a mesh structure; a lower netwhich is spaced apart from the upper net and has a mesh structure; and avent member installed between the upper net and the lower net so as toprovide the space passage.
 6. The shoe having an air-permeable tongueaccording to claim 5, wherein the vent member is configured as a tangledelastic fiber.
 7. The shoe having an air-permeable tongue according toclaim 1, wherein protrusions are formed on a flat body of the spacerstructure, the protrusions are installed upwards on the body, anair-permeable part formed at the wing part is formed at the body of thespacer structure, and spaces opened upwards between the protrusionsserve as an air-permeable part formed at the main body part.
 8. The shoehaving an air-permeable tongue according to claim 1, wherein protrusionsare formed on a flat body of the spacer structure, the protrusions areinstalled downwards on the body, an air-permeable part formed at themain body part is formed at the body of the spacer structure, and spacesopened downwards between the protrusions serve as an air-permeable partformed at the wing part.